Vacations and holidays

Vacation entitlement, associated policies and guidelines can be viewed according to the employee groups below. 

Staff

Policy 6 – Vacation covers all regular full- and part-time staff members with expected appointment duration of two years or more (see Policy 54). For purposes of this policy, years of service shall be calculated from the date of commencement of uninterrupted regular full and part-time employment with the University of Waterloo.

Need assistance understanding your vacation balance in workday?

Vacation credits
Years of service

Vacation entitlement
(in weeks)

Vacation entitlement
(in hours based on work schedule)

  35 37.5 40

1-3 years

3 weeks

105

112.5

120

4-9 years

4 weeks

140

150

160

10-11 years

4 weeks + 1 day

147

157.5

168

12-13 years

4 weeks + 2 days

154

165

176

14-15 years

4 weeks + 3 days 161 172.5 184

16-17 years

4 weeks + 4 days 168 180 192

18 years

5 weeks 175 187.5 200

19-21 years

5 weeks + 1 day 182 195 208

22-24 years

5 weeks + 2 days 189 202.5 216

25-26 years

5 weeks + 3 days 196 210 224

27-29 years

5 weeks + 4 days 203 217.5 232

30 years

6 weeks 210 225 240

Notes

  • Entitlement is prorated for part-time employees.
  • The vacation credit year is the 12-month period beginning July 1 and running through to the following June 30, during which staff members earn vacation credits.
  • Vacation credits are the portion of a staff member's full vacation entitlement accumulated during the corresponding portion of the vacation credit year.
  • Vacation entitlement is tracked in Workday in hours and is based on a staff members work schedule.

Temporary staff

Appointments less than 1 year: Vacation is 4% of gross earnings upon termination of each period of temporary employment

Appointments 1 year and greater: 10 vacation days per 1 year contract

Vacation credits
Contract length

Vacation entitlement
(in days)

Vacation entitlement
(in hours based on work schedule)

  35 37.5 40

12 months

10

70

75

80

18 months

15

105

112.5

120

24 months

20

140

150

160

Notes

  • Entitlement is prorated for part-time employees.
  • Vacation entitlement is tracked in Workday in hours and is based on a temporary staff members' work schedule and contract length.
  • Policy 6 – Vacation (Section C) covers temporary appointment staff member’s vacation accrual.

Faculty

  • View the Memorandum of agreement
    • Article 11.2 - Vacation entitlement for Members
    • Article 11.4 – Conversion of Vacation Entitlement Prior to Retirement at Age 66 or Earlier
  • Policy 56 - Vacations and Vacation Pay for Non-regular Faculty Members, Including Graduate and Undergraduate Students with Academic Appointment

CUPE